Twenty percent of Australians are estimated to suffer with hay fever, or ‘allergic rhinitis’. But what is often less clear are the variations of hay fever incidence by state. With such diverse flora, landscapes and weather patterns, it’s no surprise that keeping track of allergy hot-spots in Australia throughout the seasons can be challenging.

According to the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy;

• People with allergic rhinitis  can get tired and run down due to poor quality sleep
• Severe allergic rhinitis impairs learning and performance in children, results in more frequent absenteeism in adults and reduced productivity
• Allergic rhinitis makes asthma more difficult to control

Here’s an overview of troublesome plants and locations, state by state:                         (Original information sourced from 2007/08 National Health Survey, Australia)

Read the full news story here > http://bit.ly/1pkOMiB

New South Wales

• Considered fairly low risk for hay fever
• 13,300 per 100,000 population affected by hay fever
• Season peaks October- November (but different pollens are released at different times, which means that people with multiple allergies could be suffering right through to March)
• Tree pollen starts to be released at the end of July 
• Grass pollens from mid-September, then
• Weed pollens from September onwards.

Western Australia

• The population of Western Australia are some of the worst hit by hay fever
• 19,700 per 100,000 affected by hay fever
• The White Cypress tree flowers from July to August (a common problem)
• Northern hemisphere grasses are highly allergenic and affect the southern part of Western Australia from October – December

South Australia

• Prevailing winds increase the concentration of pollen in the air
• Prevalence of hay fever is well above the national average at 17,200 per 100,000 population affected, compared to 15,100 per 100,000 population.

Australian Capital Territory

• Highest rates of hay fever in Australia.
• 21,000 per 100,000 of population
• High rates in Canberra due to a large amount of exotic plants

Victoria

• Prevaling winds from the North bring pollen from the northerly grasslands
• Again, prevalence higher than the national average at 17,500 per 100,000

Queensland

• The lowest levels of hay fever in the country!
• 11,300 per 100,000 population affected
• This is despite the fact that Queensland has some of the longest flowering plants in Australia

Tasmania

• 16,500 per 100,00 affected by hay fever

 

We would love to hear from anyone in the Southern Hemisphere who has any hay fever information, news or advice to share.

For more information on managing allergies, and keeping pollen at bay, click here. (Managing Allergies page).

Australiasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy http://www.allergy.org.au/patients/allergic-rhinitis-hay-fever-and-sinusitis/pollen-allergy

Interesting Aussie news article on hay fever/allergic rhinitis http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/health/how-to-survive-the-hayfever-season-in-your-state/story-fneuzlbd-1226726823016